Life at Liverpool has rarely been this good, particularly in recent history.

It was three years ago when the Reds last won their opening two league games, but circumstances were slightly different.

A brilliant strike from Philippe Coutinho and a stroke of luck for Christian Benteke resulted in 1-0 victories over Stoke and Bournemouth respectively, but these weren’t very impressive displays as the hangover of the previous campaign’s underachievement was evident.

Brendan Rodgers had clung on to his job over the summer, but these were not results to embolden the decision-makers’ deliberations.

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This 100% start under his successor, Jurgen Klopp, is obviously disparate to Rodgers’ three years ago. The trajectory is on a steep upward curve rather than reaching its plateau; there have been no disruptions, no internal disputes, no dramas report the Liverpool Echo.

Instead, the side which waylaid West Ham and controlled Crystal Palace looks ready for a Premier League title tilt. Liverpool have looked good value for both victories and have rarely stepped out of first gear.

Jose Mourinho manager of Manchester United and Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool argue on the touchline the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on January 15, 2017

Rather than reflecting a team scraping through, it is a squad with so much more to give. The famed front three have been quiet by their rocketing standards, but have still made a direct contribution to seven of the eight goals so far. Klopp admitted Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson were capable of playing ‘70 or 80 per cent better’ than they did at Palace, but still provided options down the flanks.

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The progress this season has already been serene. Borderline perfect, in fact. Only Manchester City’s goal glut against Huddersfield denies them sitting on top of the Premier League, albeit after two games.

But while Liverpool keep their eye on one Manchester club, they should also cast their gaze to the other, some four-and-a-half miles west of the Etihad Stadium.

Though just two games in, the contrast in fortunes between the Reds and Manchester United couldn’t be more different.

It began in the summer, when Jose Mourinho made frequent public declarations over his unhappiness at a number of situations: his club’s work in the transfer market, the options available to him, Anthony Martial becoming a father.

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In Michigan, when the two sides met in a pre-season friendly, there was a marked difference in the managers’ demeanours. Klopp was affable, focused, happy. He even had time to congratulate Nathaniel Clyne on the birth of his child, a stark contrast to Mourinho, who was annoyed, belligerent, malcontented.

While Liverpool’s transfer business was sewn up by then - Alisson Becker was the last arrival, with his £65m move confirmed on July 19 - United were scrambling around on deadline day in attempt to find a centre-back, a real Supermarket Sweep dash which just stopped short of asking Jaap Stam out of retirement.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho (left) and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (right) on the touchine during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday January 15, 2017

A day later, they stumbled to a 2-1 win over Leicester, before this weekend brought a damaging 3-2 defeat at Brighton.

There would be little respite either the following day, with Mino Raiola’s constant efforts to send Paul Pogba to Barcelona leading to the agent firing social media barbs at United legend Paul Scholes. That saga could still rumble until the close of the transfer window next Friday.

As Mourinho and United endure choppy waters, Liverpool have crafted themselves calmer climes.

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Mourinho is undoubtedly a winner, his trophy record confirms as much. Yet it was 35-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic who notched a double to lift the League Cup, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan was a goalscorer in Stockholm. Both had left the club within six months.

Compare that to Klopp. Of the 18-man squad who lost in Basel, just four departed that summer, one of those on loan. Half of them remain at Anfield today, with the German boss believing in the long-term, rather than the short.

Jose Mourinho with Jurgen Klopp during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on October 17, 2016 (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

While Mourinho gained instant results at United, the pattern which formed at Chelsea and Real Madrid might have begun in Manchester; the infamous third season syndrome is showing flickering signs.

Klopp has always been about the long-term however, and he is starting to reap the rewards. Liverpool could have been embroiled in a similar deadline day dash for a centre-back last summer but Klopp kept his composure, certain he would eventually get the player he felt was essential to rebuilding his defence. The plaudits Virgil van Dijk has received since his January move suggests that was the right decision.

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The Liverpool boss also waited a season for Naby Keita, and was also prepared to wait for Alisson and stick with Loris Karius and Danny Ward as his options in goal before Roma finally lowered their asking price.

Alisson, van Dijk and Keita have formed part of this new-look spine which has pundits and supporters alike salivating over the start Liverpool have made. Mourinho, meanwhile, actively tried to displace two centre-backs he signed last summer for over £60m with more big-money signings; he also made the last-minute decision to keep Marouane Fellaini, again in direct contrast to Klopp’s planning with Emre Can.

The serenity of one and the serpentine of the other has reflected in how the two clubs have begun this season.

Two games is no real sample size, but they have served as a reflection on the general feeling about the direction of the two clubs at this precise moment, a movement which started long ago.

While the second place finish Mourinho managed was considered fortunate, Klopp’s side were considered to be better value than their eventual fourth placed finish. As Mourinho lamented his team not being talked up as much as Spurs and Liverpool, perhaps that is a reason why.

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The point stands that United did finish higher than Liverpool last season, with both sides also enduring cup final defeats. The Reds haven’t beaten their bitter rivals in the league since March 2014, either.

There is work to do to ensure the trajectory turns into a full-blown trend, but it's the start Liverpool would have wanted.

If they are to get closer to City this season, in all likelihood they will need to clamber over United - and Tottenham - in the climb to the summit.

After just two games, Liverpool have already positioned themselves ahead of United.